Located 500 meters off the coast of Xiamen in southeastern China's Fujian Province, Gulangyu island got its name from the reefs to the southwest of the island, which when pounded by waves, produce a sound like the beating of a drum. A sleepy and desolate island prior to the First Opium War (1840-1842) and a foreign enclave until the 1940s, Gulangyu island has evolved into a dream destination for travelers, with fresh air, a relaxing lifestyle and balmy and pleasant climate all year round. Gulangyu is known as an "Architecture Museum" as it boasts several buildings with an interesting combination of European and Chinese styles. Wandering through the winding streets is a treat, with exquisitely constructed grand villas, churches and consulates all waiting to be discovered. [China.org.cn/Photo by Han Bo]